Explosive blast actuated liquid distributors and processes of operation thereof

ABSTRACT

An explosive blast actuated liquid distributing assembly is transported by and located at or near and operatively connected to the location at which its operation is desired for applying successive increments of water as a stream which extends substantial distances from the end of that assembly for purposes of quelling riots and controlling fires.

United States Patent [191 Paul 1 Dec. 18, 1973 1 EXPLOSIVE BLASTACTUATED LIQUID DISTRIBUTORS AND PROCESSES OF OPERATION THEREOF [75]Inventor: Dwaine M. Paul, Amarillo, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Ebald, lnc., Lubbock, Tex.

[22] Filed: June 11, 1971 [21]. Appl. No.: 152,044

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.835,539, June 23,

1969, Pat. No. 3,589,604.

52 u.s.c|... ..239/l72,162/24 {51] Int. Cl B05b 9/04 [58] Field ofSearch; 169/24; 417/73; 239/177, 172

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hisaw 169/24 3,589,6046/1971 Paul 239/177 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles AssistantExaminer-.lohn J. Love Att0meyEly Silverman and Charles W. Coffee [57]ABSTRACT An explosive blast actuated liquid distributing assembly istransported by and located at or near and operatively connected to thelocation at which its operation is desired for applying successiveincrements of water as a stream which extends substantial distances fromthe end of that assembly for purposes of quelling riots and controllingfires,

12 Claims, '18 Drawing Figures sir/9.461

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DWA/NE M. PAUL ATTORNEY PMENTEU DEC 18 I975 SHEET 8 OF 9 FIG. /2

ATTORNEY 1 EXPLOSIVE BLAST ACTUATED LIQUID DISTRIBUTORS AND PROCESSESOPERATION THEREOF RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

1. Field of thelnvention: The field of this invention is v fluiddistributing apparatus comprising sprayin means carried by vehicularsupport means.

2. Description of the Prior Art: Quelling riots has not been independentof a pressurized water supply'and accordingly were subject to mobsdistroying water pressure at points functionally connected to the siteat which such pressurized fluid might be needed; also, projection ofwater in areas whereat high pressure water was not available left suchareas without adequate protection against fires.

In order to create a pressure that will project water as a stream topoints 544 feet distant a large amount of power is required andconventional high pressure distribution systems are expensive.

According to this invention, the problems of the prior art are met by asystem which is light in weight, can be run without eigh water pressuresource and is effective, economic and reliable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the jet stream is substantially stationary soas to suffer minimum resistance by the'air through which the streampasses and may be of sufficiently short duration to reach the ground asa spray or as a stream. I

The apparatus of the invention provides for automatically periodicallyrepeatedly projecting coherent masses of liquid from a reservoir of suchliquid supported on a mobile self-propelled wheeled vehicle, for longdistances either at a mass of rioters, or to a height of over 200 feet,to apply said liquid to a fire at such elevation, or, when said liquidis one containing herbicides and fungicides, liquid is projected to andatomized at height in excess of 200 feet above the'ground. This isaccomplished by passing successive portions of liquid into one or morecombustion chambers of large diameter at a first pressure level andobstructing the liquid flow from each said chamber and confining eachsaid portion of liquid in said chamber .with a combustible mixturethereabove, and igniting each said combustible mixture at an ignitionpoint within said chamber while concurrently removing obstruction to theflow from said chamber, whereby the pressure in each said chamber risesto substantial pressures in excess of said first pressure level prior todischarge of said liquid from each said chamber and discharging saidliquid from each said chamber through a narrow con-duit operativelyconnected to said chamber as coherent'masses of from 20 to 30 gallonsand passing air from which mois- V ture has been removed into each saidchamber past its ignition point to remove moisture from such ignitionpoint'and thereafter directing a combustible gas to the vicinity of suchignition pointprior toagain igniting such a combustible mixture in suchcombustion chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of apparatus 412 according tothis invention.

FIG. 2 is a side oblique view of the explosive blast liquid distributingassembly 40 of the apparatus 412 of FIG. l with apparatus in zone 2B-land 2B2 removed. FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic top view of zone 2C of FIG. 1to show apparatus in zone 2B-1 and 23-2 of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of another embodiment of apparatus411 according to this invention and FIG. 4 is a top view of embodiment413.

FIG. 5A is a side view of embodiment 413, which is a variation ofembodiment-412. I

FIG. 5B is a .view of the portion of apparatus 413 in zone SBB of FIG.5A.

FIG. 5C is a view of the portion of apparatus 413 in zone SCC of FIG.5B.

FIG. 6 is a plan view along Section 6A of FIG. 5B.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged top view of the apparatus shown in zone 7A of FIG.I with the nozzle 45 bent in a clockwise direction.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view taken along the direction of arrow 8A ofFIG. 7 showing, in enlarged view, zone 7A of FIG. 1 with axis of nozzle45 in the flat ver tical plane including longitudinal. axes of thecollimator tube 43 of the explosive blas=liquid distributor assembly 40and of the chamber 42.

FIG. 9 is a front view of apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 taken alongthe direction of arrow 9A in FIG. 7 with the nozzle 45 bent, as seenfrom above, to approximate its most counterclockwise position. 7

FIG. 10 shows another form of apparatus according to this invention.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrammatic representation of two different valvetiming mechanisms for the explosive blast liquid distributor assembliesherein described. FIGS. 11 and fi'correspond in respect to array ofassembly 60.

FIG. 13 is a side view of embodiment 413 in fire fighting operation.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic representation of the gas volume controlassembly 92.

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic showing of connections of a battery ofcombustion chambers within the. scope of this invention.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Broadly, the apparatuses ofthis invention comprise the cooperative combination of an explosiveblast liquid distributing system assembly as 40, or 240- and Theself-propelled truck carrier and reservoir assembly 310 comprises a bedtruck 311 and a water tank 316. The bed truck 311 comprises a pair offront wheels 312 and 313, a pair of rear wheels 313', and conventionalflat bed 314 and a cab 315 in a conventional operative combination; thetank 316 is a conventional steel cylindrical tank feet high and 8 feetlong of oneeighth inch wall thickness and about 13,000 gallon capacity.Tank 316 and assembly 40 are firmly attached to and supported on bed314. A power take-off from the motor of truck 311 drives a motor for apump 138 for assembly 40.

The frame or flat bed 314 carries two butane tanks, 421 and 137, one forthe compressor motor 423- which is a four cylinder Chevrolet engine 6.The engine 423 drives the air pump or compressor 128 at 2,400 r.p.m. anddrives air into air tank 424 to produce air at 45 poundsv per squareinch pressure. This air passes through a cooling line as 129 in thewater tank 316 and then to a water trap 426 and then to a 125 p.s.i.g.regulator 427 to provide dry air to the air tank, as 139 or 210. Themotor 423 also drives a generator for the timing and electrical controls118. The timing control provides a one-half second pause after thecleaning by the air before the propane gas is added to the combustionchamber. The propane gas from tank 137 or 222 is added with the outletof the gas line adjacent to the inlet of thespark plug (as shown in FIG.12) so that it will operate to put such gas next to the spark plug(after the air stream from orifice, as 136 cleans the spark plug) and soprovide effective combustion.

Another embodiment, 413, of this invention, shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5Ccomprises a variation in the explosive blast liquid distributingassembly 40 in combination with the self-propelled carrier and truckassembly 310.

Another embodiment, 411, of the invention, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4comprises a separable movable trailer frame assembly 270 with anexplosive blast liquid distributing water assembly 240 located thereon,in operative combination with a self-propelled trailer tractor andreservoir assembly 320.

The self-propelled trailer tractor and reservoir assembly 320 comprisesa bed truck 321 and a water tank 326. The 'bed truck 321 compriese apair of front wheels 322, a pair of rear wheels 323, a flat frame or bed328 and acab 325 in conventional operative combination. The tank 326 isa conventional large cylindrical tank 5 feet high and 8 feet long ofone-eighth inch wall thickness and about 13,000 gallons capacity: tank326 is firmly attached to and supported on bed 328. A power take-offfrom the motor of tractor 321 drives a pump motor for a pump.

A modification of apparatus 411, shown in FIG. 10 as 411A, comprises anexlposive blast liquid distributing assembly 140 pivotally attached toand supported by the frame 328 of tractor 321A of carrier and reservoirtractor assembly like 320. A pump (like 138) on frame 328 is driven bythe motor of tractor 321A and serves to supply water to chamber 142A ofassembly 140 under pressure.

The explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 40 comprises a waterdischarge assembly 41, an ignition and timing control subassembly system50, a nozzle positioning subassembly 60 and a nozzle frame subassembly70 in operative combination,'as shown in FIGS. 11

and 12 diagramatically and in more detail in FIGS. 7-9.

The water discharge assembly 41 comprises a vertically extendingcylindrical hollow combustion chamber 42, a collimator tube 43, a nozzlecontrol valve 44,a nozzle assembly 45.

The combustion chamber 42 assembly is a hollow vertically extendingrigid circular cylindrical chamber rounded at its upper and lower endsand connected at its bottom through a discharge opening therein to acollimator tube 43 by' a smoothly rounded elbow. Valves 126, 121 andother valves shown in FIG. 11 in box indicated as 11B are supported incontrol box chamber 41A (FIG. 2) and form timing valve assembly 119A.

The collimator tube 43 is a rigid cylindrical tube of uniformcross-section along its length and with the axis thereof horizontal and,at its inlet end, intersects the longitudinal vertical axis of thechamber 42. A nozzle control valve 44-at the other,outlet,end (righthand end as shown in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8) of the collimator tube 43 isoperatively connected thereto. The inlet end of a flexible nozzle tube46 is operatively connected to the outlet of valve assembly 44 and theinlet of nozzle 45 i is operatively connected to the outlet end of tube46. A valve control arm 47 is operatively connected to the normallyclosed closure element or gate 48 of the valve 44; the gate 48 ismovably mounted on the frame 49 of the conventional valve assembly 44which is normally closed, and opened by assembly 50.

The nozzle 45 is supported on the nozzle positioning assembly on thenozzle frame assembly 70.

The nozzle frame assembly compriese a horizontal box frame 81 firmlyattached to a vertical frame 82, to bed frame 314. The box frame 81comprises lateral beam member 71, central beam member 72, front beammember 73 and a rear beam member 74, firmly joined together in the formof a hollow box. The vertical frame 82 has the general shape of aninverted U having a vertical forward member 83 and a vertical rearmember 84 joined to the members 73 and 74 respectively and thehorizontal top member 85 joining the tops of the members 83 and 84.

The ignition and timing control subassembly system 50 shown in FIGS. 7,9 and 11 comprises, in operative combination, a 55 and a sparkswitch'53, and a timing valve assembly 119A.

A piston assembly 55 comprises a rigid piston shaft 59 in a verticalcylindrical piston casing 57, the upper end of casing 57 is pivotallyheld by arm 85 of box 81. Piston shaft 59 is movable lengthwise withincasing 57 tomove outward of that casing 57 and is pivotally joined atits outer end to control arm 47 of valve 44 at the central portion ofthe arm;a rigid switch contact arm 52 is firmly attached to the lowerend of shaft 59. A tension spring 56 is attached to the outer end of arm47 and to member 85. Hence, the piston shaft 59 moves in opposition tothe force of the piston spring 56. The valve 47 is thus normally closed.The spark plug 51 is firmly attached with a combustion tight fit intothe top of the combustion chamber 42. Spark timer arm 52 is a rigidhorizontally extending ear located on the water discharge control valvepiston shaft and movable there- I with to contact and actuate the sparkswitch 53; the

spark plug switch is connected to a voltage source 54 so that, onmovement of the timer arm 52 into contact drive piston 63, asupplementary positioning oil piston 64, a-nozzle clamp 65 and a nozzlepositioning elevator bracket 67. The nozzle 45 is operatively connectedto the front end of a flexible water-tight nozzle tube 46. The L-shapednozzle positioning bracket 62 is formed of a rigid driving arm 61A and adriven arm 61B pivotally supported at a pivot pin 66 therefor on themember 71 of the nozzle frame '70. A spring 75 is attached at one end tothe corenr whereat members 71 and 74 of the' frame 70 join and isattached at its other end to the outer end of the arm 61'B'to draw itclockwise as shown in FIG. 7. Bracket 67 is supported at end of arm6113. A nozzle positioning drive piston 63 has a rigid piston chambercasing therefor 63A firmly yet pivotally fixed on to the frame 70 and apiston shaft 633 extending therefrom is pivotally attached to arm 61A ofthe bracket 62. Nozzle clamp 65, which is firmly attached to the nozzle45, is supported in a vertical adjustment sleeve or bracket 67 fromwhich a rigid elevator rod 68 porjects and adjusts vertically andonwhich (elevator rod theclamp 65 is firmly attached and supported. Alock screw fixes the portion of rod 68 in bracket 67.

. In operation the drive piston 63 is moved by air passing throughtwo-way control valve 91 and timing throttle valve 91T, to slowly movethe bracket 62 about its pivot pin 66 and thus, over a period of timeranging from 2 to 6 minutes and usually of about 4 minutes,'rotates thearm 62 from the extreme clockwise position shown in' FIG. 7 to theextreme counterclockwise position-thereof shown in FIG. 9. Contact ofbracket arm 62 and pin 90A of release valve 90 releases the pressureapplied to'piston 63 (as shown by the piping diagram of FIG. 11) andthenthe bracket 62 is returned to its starting position of FIG. 7 by spring75.

A release valve switch 90 is operatively connected to the piston 63 by-atwo-way noramlly open valve 911. After the relatively slowcounterclockwise motion of nozzle 45 it is rapidly moved clockwise whenbutton 90A of release valve switch 90 is contacted'by the arm 618 whenthe nozzle has traversed its intended path counterclockwise as shown inFIG. 9.

, The elevation of the nozzle is effected by adjustment of elevator rod68 in the supporting bracket 67 (shown as FIG. 9).

The nozzle positioning assembly 60 is located on the nozzle frame 70 asshown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. In the position of parts there shown theactuation of the nozzle piston 63 provides for motion of the nozzle 45from its clockwise position as shown in FIG. 7 to its counterclockwisepositionshown in FIG. 9. This travel is performed by overcoming thetension in the spring'75. The controlled motion of the longitudinal axisof nozzle 45 relative to the line of or longitudinal axis of thecollimator tube 43 is the method of varying the angle of discharge ofthe stream of water 115 which is discharged from the nozzle orifice 69during the operation of the explosive blast liquid distributing assembly40; in the combination of apparatus shown in the apparatus.

An air compressor 128 passes compressed'air by air line 129, which isattached to and extends along the frame 314 to air tank 139 located nearthe chamber 42.

The conduit 324 of the apparatus 242 isoperatively connected via a checkvalve 130 to the combustion chamber 42. The water in conduit 324 ispressurized by a pump as 138. A reservoir 24A and a constant outputpressure valve 248 are in line with check valve 130, so the waterfeeding intotank 42 is at a constant pressure. Air line 139A passes tovalve 126 from tank 139. A source of compressed fuel 137 also passes byline 137A to valve 126 on outer wall of chamber 42. The valve diagram ofFIG. 11 illustrates the connections of the valves and lines herebelowreferred to in respect to their operation. Compressed air from tank 139,provides, via line 139A that constant air pressure at about 100 p.s.i.g.comes into the timer valve 121 and therethrough into the timing orvariable pressure tank 124. The air pressure builds up in the timer tank124; When its pressures reaches 50 psig. air passes constant inputpressure valve or regulator 125V (which it reaches by manifold line124M) via line 125A to the slider 127 and moves the control slider 127in the valve 126 from its normally closed position to the positionthereof for the fuel gas and air to enter into the chamber 42. As theair pressure (100 p.s.i.g.) is substantially greater than the 50 psigpressure of the water in the tank 42,the pressure of the gasses causesthe check valve 1.30 to close. The gas which enters into tank 124 andinto the tank chamber 42 is at 100 p.s.i.g: when the pressure in chamber124 reaches p.s.i.g. as sense'dby the pilot valve 131 such pressure ispassed by line 131A against the other end of the slider 1.27, and movesthe slider 127, overcoming the opposing pressure previously appliedthereto of only 50 psig through valve 125V. This slider movement alsoserves to pass air to the valve control line 135 and thereby. to thepiston 57 and causes the shaft 59 thereof to move downward. The sparktimer arm 52 their contacts the spark switch 53 and causes ignition atthe spark plug 51. On ignition the great pressure in the combustionchamber (about 300 psig) forces the water 37 then in the chamber 42(asbelow described) and the collimator tube 43 and the nozzle 45 outtherefrom as a'stream, 115, that passes through the air for a distanceof to 550 feet. The outer portion as 115A of the stream is projected forup to 550 feet; the lower portion of the stream (115B) extends atdifferent times during the portion of such discharge from 10 to 450 feetfrom the orifice 69. The stream delivers water relatively evenly over afan-like area 116 that is shaped generally like the upper portion of anexclamation point.

The narrow stream from apparatus 412 may be directed at any of agroupfof rioters, as 117 as in FIG. 3 or to reach the upper stories of abuilding as on fire, as in FIG. 13, as shown for apparatus 411 in FIG. 3and for apparatus 413 in FIG. 13.

With the particular dimensions of apparatus shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7, 8, &9, after the discharge of the water from the nozzle 45, the exhaustgasses created by the combustion in chamber 42 continue to-pass out fromorifice 69 for a short time, about I to 2- seconds.

' When theslider ll27'passes air to the piston chamber 57' it alsopasses it to a purge channel 132 which goes to a purge orifice 133 inthe chamber 42:purge line 132 is provided with check valves 134A, 1348and a purge storage chamber 136. Accordingly, when the pressure in thecombustion chamber 42 falls from combustion pressures as the combustionor exhaust gas reaches the atmosphere, the purge line air is appliedthereinto; the relatively small purge tank 136 drives air into andthrough thechamber 42 and the collimator tube 43 out through the nozzle45 and thereby exhausts the combustion gasses from that system and alsodrives water or moisture away from the adhacent spark plug 51 in thechamber 42, was to keep it dry for its next ignition step. This purgeoperation is a very brief duration, of approximately 1 to 2 seconds, butit is adequately long to effect such purge and drying. Concurrently withthe purging, immediately after the drive of water by combustion, thewater from the pipe 24 pours through the check valve 130 and againproceeds to fill up the tank 42. When the pressure in the chamber 42rises to combustion value, the pressure in tank 124 and lines 131A and121A are released by pilot relief valve 124V and like valves 131V and121V, respectively. Line 125A pressure is released when pressure in line131A exceeds that of 125A as 125R opens at a preselected pressure lessthan that of line 131A but more than that of line 125A: hence, aftercombustion,slider 127 is moved by the usual valve spring to the normallyclosed position in regard to the air and fuel passage therethrough intothe chamber 42. This disconnection of such line pressure permitsbleeding and/or passage of air from the cylinder 57 and the spring 56attached to the arm 47 then closes the gate 48 of the valve 44 and thepressure of the water in the chamber 42 builds up after pressure of thepurge tank is dissipated (it falls to atmospheric). The water thenenters tank 42 and traps the air therein and thereabove and the pressurein tank 42 increases as water enters that tank.

The constant pressure input valve regulator 1211 concurrently allows airto pass to timer regulator 121 when the pressure in chamber 42 is belowa predetermined value of 30 p.s.i.g: this'starts the timing cycleinitiated by passage of air (at constant input pressure) from 121 tovolumetric or timer tank 124. The adjustment of valve 121 in view of thecapacity of timer tank 124 is such that, by the time that the pressurein the variable pressure timer tank 124 is sufficient to reach 50 psigthat the amount of water desired to be located in the tank 42 is againup to the usual level and has a sufficient volume to deliver water tocover the zone desired by stream 115 discharged from nozzle 69 as shownin FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 and the size of the combustion chamber 42, which isthereabove, is adequate to provide sufficient combustion energy todeliver the liquid water to that zone. As above described at that pointof reaching of 50 psig pressure in the variable pressure tank 124 thepilot valve 125V permits air to pass there- 'past, move the slider 127of the valve 126 into the open position and fuel and air pass into thechamber 42 until, as above described, the pressure in chamber 42 as wellas 124 rises to a pressure of about 90 lbs whereupon the tank 124 isconnected by line 131A to the slider 127 and shuts off the further flowof gasses through valve 126 into the chamber 42. During this time ofpassage of combustion gas into chamber 42 the excess in pressure of thegas over that of the water has closed check valve 130 and preventedfurther movement of the water into the chamber 42. When the valve 131moves the slider 127 as above described to cut off the further flow ofsuch combustion gas into thechamber 42 the valve 126 also then passesair into the cylinder 57 for movement of the arm 59 and the spark timerarm 52 and 53 to initiate combustion and repeat the cycle abovedescribed. The timer valve 121 is adjustable from 0 to 2 minutes and isusually set at 6 seconds for the process above described.

Accordingly, in operation of the apparatus 412 the chamber 42 thusprovides for containing explosions which, within a period of about oneand a half seconds in each period, (depending upon the valvearrangements it might have a range of from one to five seconds) purgethe water added to the pipe section 43 through the nozzle 45 and providefor a trajectory of the water so discharged by the explosion in chamber42 for a distance of up to about 550 feet. The explosion energy isvaried to vary the trajectory of such water and such trajectory may alsobe varied by varying the angle of the nozzle 45 with respect to theground 330. Such water is distributed to a zone against personnel, as 117, at necessary distance as 100 to 400 feet from the apparatus 411,412or 41in riot quelling operations as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4; as ameasure of the pattern of the water in the stream 115, such water whenejected in a path from 0 to 30 angle with the ground is distributed soas to reach the ground 330 at distance of 300 to 500 feet from thenozzle 45 with a pattern that is somewhat egg-shaped (with the wideshape of the eggshaped pattern at the greater distance) with a maximum30 feet width when there is over 150 pounds of pressure developed byeach explosion. Standard nozzles are available as brought out in the L.B. Nelson Manufacturing Company catalog (L. R. Nelson ManufacturingCompany, Inc., Irrigation Division for No. 80 693) for trajectories ofup to 590 feet. The embodiment 411 herein provides for a recharge timeof tube 43 and chamber 42 of about 6 seconds with 40 lb. pressure in thepipe 324. Pressure in chamber 42 automatically actuates water supplycut-off. Each time there is such a water purge 25 to 30 gallons aredistributed at a distance of from 2010 500 feet distance from the nozzle45. It is within the scope of the invention that the distance traversedwill be proportional to the energy of the explosion for that purge orseries of purges which may be, in turn, controlled as below described.One way of controlling this distance is to have the amount of open angleof the valves supplying the gas to the explosion system to vary for theparticular series of purges than to be made as by gas volume controlassembly 92. It is within the scope of the invention that pressures of450 p.s.i. in chamber 42 will be easily obtained so that 600 ft.trajectory or distance can be obtained.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, arm 52 that actuates the ignition switch 53that actuate the spark plug 51 for the explosion chamber 42 does notactuate switch 53 until after the valve 44 to the nozzle 45 has firstbeen opened by its crank arm 47. The arm 47 that controls the nozzlevalve 45 is actuated bythe same shaft 59 as supports the arm 52 and thetiming thereby provides for a flattening out" of the pressure in theexplosion chamber 42 by opening the valve 44 to the nozzle 45 prior tothe combustion explosion occurring in the chamber 42. Accordingly, theforce given to the water as it is ejected on each purge from the nozzle45 isat a more even rate than it would be without such avoidance of ashort peak pressure; this also avoids excessively high mechanical strainon the walls of chamber 42 and tube 43. The slow rate of movement of thenozzle and provides that, at

9 each period of time during which the liquid is purged (that is for'thesubstantially 1% to 2 seconds period) while the nozzle is in fact to aslight degree moving, it is moving so slowly in radial motion that, forpractical purposes, it can be regarded during that l to 2 second periodas stationary.

The explosion, purge and fill cycle repeats automatically each 6 to lseconds while the nozzle slowly moves in one direction. The nozzle movesslowly counterclockwise as shown in sequence of P108. 7, 8 and 9 andthen snaps back to position of FIG. 7 on release of pressure to cylinder63 automatically to start again: the nozzle moves at a rate of aboutfour minutes per each such cycle, the rate being controllable as hereindescribed.

An oil piston 64 may be interposed (as in FIG. 8 and 11) between valve91 and piston 63 to move the piston 63 more smoothly than by pneumaticpower alone. A throttle valve 90T is used in line 9013 between valve 191and piston 63 as well as throttle valve 91T to control the speed ofmovement of bracket 62 pivotally about pin 66 from position of FIG. -7to that of FIG. 9. i

In another embodiment of timing valve assembly shown in FIG. 12 thetiming valve assembly is, as below described, free of connection to orpressure measurement within the container 42. in that timing valveassembly a valve 201 is attached to the end of the line 324 and isattached through a normally open pneumatic valve .202 connectedvai line204 and a check valve 203 to the bottom of the combustion chamber 42.The line 204 is connected by tee 205 to the collimator tube 43 and thevalve 244 is a normally closed valve with a pneumatic line 245 attachedthereto for control thereof. l u

The airline 2111 is attached through the tee 211 to a reguator valve 212and adjustable timer valve 223 to the timer tank 124 which feedsinto'regulator valves 213, 214 and 215; These valves are set for openingat different pressures, valve 215 opens at 50 psig pressure, valve 214opens at 100 psig pressure and valve 213 is pilot that opens at l 15psig pressure. When, after combustion and discharge of water from thechamber 42 through tee 205 and line 43, water comes from the line 324through the line 2114, valves'201, 202 and 243 and tee 20,5 and entersthe tank 42, the air used to purge the exhaust gases is trapped andcompressed by the incoming water: the amount of water that enterschamber 42 is determined and limited by the volume of that air remainingafter compression thereof bythe water. The timer valve 223 operatesthrough the valve 216 to move the slider 217 tothe left and thereby theair line from tee (or T) 211 passes air into the line 218 past checkvalve 219 and 220 into the tank 42; concurrently the air passing alongline 218 also passes to the normally closed 2-position valve 221and'provides for pas-v sage of gas from source 222 through check valve224 into the chamber 42. This passage of gas to chamber 42 continuesuntil the pressure in the tank has reached the pressure of the gas,i.e., about 120 psig. Timer valve 223 continues to let air pass to tank124. at a fixed rate.

When the pressure of tank 124 reaches 100 psig (a) the pilot valve 214opens and via line 214A moves the slider 217 of valve 216 to the right.So moving slider 217 to the right (as shown in FIG. 12)'permits bleedingvalve 221 to return to closed position, (b) the normally closed bleedvalve 225 is then automatically opened and air passes through the line226 to check valve 220 .14 but not into the chamber 42 until it is atthe same or lower pressure, while, (c) normally open valve 202 is closedduring air passage through the line 226 by passage of air through thelines 227 and 245 which closes the valve assembly 2112 and opensthe-valve 244 and then moves arm 52 to close switch 53 and initiatecombustion. Such combustion produces gasses that drive the water out ofthe chamber 42. When the water 42 passes out of the chamber tee 205check valve 2113 closes. The valve 223 contains air between lOO and 1 l5p.s.i.g.. and maintains the slider 217 in pre-combustion position; aftercombustion valve 225 passes air as. a purge through tank 42. The timertank 124 is so set that this passage of air from thepurge tank is ofrelatively short duration[although it provides enough air to clear outthe tank as a purge] When the pressure in the tank 124 later reaches lbsper-square inch valve 213 opens and the timer valve 233 is released, andthe timer valve 233 bleeds out the air therefrom and from tank 124; withthe tank 124 exhausted, the slider 217 returns to its normal positionand the 45 p.s.i.g. regulator 216 also bleeds. out so that the slider217 returns to its,

normal position and the pressure in the lines 218 is relieved and alsoat the valve 221 via a bleed therein.

The system is then ready to initiate another cycle with the timingcontrolled by the setting on the timer 223. More particularly the waterfrom source 24 passes through the normally open valve 202 and. entersthe tank 42 while the normally closed valve 244 is closed. This fillingof the tank 42 will occur only to that point at which the air, whichpreviously filled the system during the purge thereof, is compressed toa predetermined value of about 4 to l. The water stays at this level andcan stay there for some time when the machine is shut off; when thetimer 223 (and 124) again actuates valves 225 and 2116 gas and air passinto the chamber 42 via valves 219, 220, 221, 224 and 216 and thepressure reaches a. predetermined value in tank 124', inasmuch as thevolume is fixed the chamber 42 receives a predetermined weight of suchgas when valves 98 and 99 are fully open as shown in FIG. 111 for theapparatus 411 and in MG. 12, an accessory water tank 42A is supplied byline 324 inapparatus 411 whereby the'liquid in line-324 has aparticularly constant pressure prior to entry into chamber 42: thisaccessory tank 42A is applicable to apparatus 412 and 413 as well as toapparatus 411. Line 324 is supplied by tank 326 which has a constantoutput pressure assisted by a constant pressure output valve as 3013 and4213 for 2111 or 248. Line 324 passes water to accessory water tank 42Aby constant input pressure valve 4213. Tank 42A supplies tank 42 byconstant output pressure valve 2111 and check valve 203. The tank 42A isaccordingly filled during discharge of tank 42 and improves thesmoothness of operation of assembly 40. Tank 42A has approximately thesame capacity as tank 42 and is supported near thereto as on theterminal station of apparatus 20. In embodiments 41 1, 412, 413apparatus 44 (as well as and 240) does not require the water pressure inthe supply to tank 316 or 326 in the particular embodiment herein shownto be higher than 50 p.s.i.g.

A gas volume control assembly 92 is located at and near the centralwater supply tank 316 in apparatus 412 (and near tank 326 in apparatus411) and is located in part at and is operatively connected to ignitionand timing control subassembly 50 adjacent chamber 42 of assembly 40. i

Assembly 92 comprises-a gas volume control cam 337 firmly attached atits center to the vertical portion 338A of a sturdy elbow pipe 338. Pipe338 is in the shape of an upside down L the top portion of which, 338Bis horizontal and the bottom portion, 338A, of which is vertical androtatably attached to the support therefor and vertical. The cam isshaped like a square and is flat on its top and bottom and is rigid andits vertical edges or sides are smooth, as shown in FIG. 14.

A spring loaded piston positioning sensing sleeve 94 is supported onbracket 92A which is firmly located on pipe 338A and slidably supports acam edge sensing arm 93. Sensing arm 93 is a rigid straight arm that iscoaxial with and reciprocatable within sleeve 94 and lies in a planeparallel to the top of cam 337 and slightly therebelow.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the components and relations of thegas volume control assembly 92, the cam 337 thereof being shown inisometric view, the sensing sleeve 94 being shown broken away in part.

The camedge sensing arm 93, at one, sensing, end thereof (93A), slidablyand continuously contacts one edge as (37Din FIG. 14) of the cam 337 andis a cam follower with a roller. A spring loaded throttle valve 99 inthe outlet line 137A of the gas supply to the combustion chamber 42 anda similar spring loaded throttle valve 98 in the outlet line 139A of thehigh pressure air supply to the combustion chamber 42 are controlled byan adjustable bleeder valve 96 which is operatively connected to thosevalves by a line 97 carried on the pipe 324 of assembly 412. Adjustablebleeder valve 96 is firmly supported on the rigid bracket 92A and firmlylocated thereby relative to the cam sensing arm 93 and is operativelyconnected to the air supply 139. The control end 938 of the arm 93 ispivotally connected to a rigid control arm 95 which is operativelyconnected to and controls the bleeder valve 96. The pneumatic line 97 issupported by the conduit pipe 324 and operatively connected to throttlevalves 98 and 99 adjacent combustion chamber'42. Accordingly, the cam337 controls the amount of gasa't high'pressure and air at high pressurepassed into the combustion chamber 42 in a manner controlled by theposition of arm 33813. The valve 96 is arranged so that the valves 98and 99 are full open when the apparatus as 412 is the maximum distancefrom nozzle 69 of the apparatus 412 to the target, as 117 of the stream115, as shown in FIG. 2 and the valves 98 and 99 may be accordinglycontrolled for greater or lesser amount of energy to be released toprovide lesser amount of combustion energy to be released to providevaried amount of force on the body of liquid on the combustion chamber,as 42... Thereby the combustion force in the operation of the assembly I4015 varied according to the position of the assembly 40 to providemaximum power when needed and to reduce the power in that explosiveblast liquid distributing assembly as needed.

In one embodiment of apparatus 412 dimensions and details areas-follows: j

Combustion chamber 42 is 54 inches high and has an 8 inch internaldiameter; tube 43 is l l. feet'long and has a 6 inch internal diameterfrom the central longitudinal axis of combustion chamber 42 to the gateof valve 44; nozzle 45 is a 1 inch 9,200 R type of L. R. Nelson sn s PeIll .(Bull n.BQ93J1X2IY 223 of FIG. 12 and valve 121 of FIG. 11 is atwo-way pilot operated valve No. 3,092 of Schrader Manufacturing Co.,Wake Forest, N. C., Catalogue VAL-l page 21 (type44,4353,000 as per page25 thereof); and valve 126 of FIGS. 11 and 12 is a four-way threeposition mark 420 valve series, 1/2 N.P.T., valve type 9, double pilotexternally piloted, type 44,921-3 ,000 as set out in Schrader'CatalogueVAL-l page 25. While the timing valve assemblies in the ignition andtiming control subassembly of FIGS. 11 and 12 are shown for penumaticcontrol such systems could be electrically controlled by use ofconventional electrical equivalents thereof and the process of thisinvention includes the use of electrical valve and timing-componentstherefor.

The pressure during discharge of water from chamber 42 and nozzle 45 is250 psig. when the apparatus 412 is operating. FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 arepictorial in character and dimensions may be approximated therefrom.

The combination of apparatus 411A shown in FIG. 10 comprises a waterdischarge assembly 140, an ignition system 150 and a carriage frameassembly 270.

The assembly 140 and system 150 are mounted on the frame assembly 270.

In embodiment 411A the frame assembly 270 is pivotally and movablysupported on its own wheels as 177A and 17713 as shown as FIGS. 3, 4 and10 and a combustible fuel supply and an air supply are provided on thetractor assembly 310 as above described.

The frame assembly 270 comprises a radial frame 170 and a main frameassembly 118. I

Assemblies 140, 150 and 170 are, respectively, identical with the wateredischarge assembly 40; ignition and timing control subassembly system 50and frame of the apparatus 412and the parts of assembly are referred tob y referent numbers that are 100 units higher than the referent numeralapplied to the corresponding part of assembly 40. The explosive blastliquid distributing assembly, 140, is mounted with its nozzle, 145, infixed position relative to and in line with, (i.e. the axis of nozzle,145, in the same vertical plane as) the longitudinal axis of collimatortube, 143, but

there is no motion of the nozzle with respect to the collimator tube 143as' provided for in assembly 40.

Frame 118 is rigid and extends the full length of assembly 140. Frameassembly 118 comprises rigid front and rear member's 118A and 1 18B andcentral member 118C and a lateral member 118D. The front end of themembers 118A and 1188 are firmly joined to frame by rigid members 11813and NSF. Members 118A 118F are firmly joined together and supportedpivotally about a vertical axis 118G through hinges 1181-! the member1188 and serves to position it relative to' the trailer tractor frame328 in a manner similar to that of the nozzle positioning assembly 60and a release valve 1911A is attached to frame 328 of tractor321. A

65 spring is attached to frame 321 and to a distant portion of frame118, as shown in FIG. 10.

The nozzle and frame positioning cylinder 163 of the explosive blastliquid distributing assembly 1410 is 10- chamber'142 (identical instructure to the combustionchamber 42 above described for the explosiveblast liquid distributing assembly 40). The operation of the nozzle andframe positioning assembly 160 of the explosive blast liquiddistributing assembly 140 is to a great degree the same as that ofnozzle position subassembly 60 of the explosive blast liquiddistributing as sembly 40 with the exception that the frame and nozzleand frame positioning subassembly 160 is arranged so that the explosiveblast liquid distributing assembly 14%) rotates as a unit about thevertical longitudinal axis of hinge 1180 on chamber 142 and the thrustof the discharge from the nozzle 145 (identical in structure andfunctionto the nozzle 45 of assembly'40) is passed, without any sideways changeof direction, directly to the support for the combustion chamber 142.

The wheels 177A'AND 17713 are rotatably located on axles on frames thatare pivotally located in outrigger frame 176 portion of frame 270 so asto be ableto travel in a path perpendicular to the length of collimatortube 143 as shown in FIG. or parallel thereto, as

in FIG. 3. v

The pressure in piston 63 extending its shaft is cut off on contact ofmember 118C with valve pin 136A. That contact releases the pressureapplied to 163, when, in directions shown in FIG. 10, the assembly 146moves counterclockwise relative to frame 328. However the frame 1 18 maybe locked to the frame 328. The control of the combustion process andwater distribution from its nozzle in'assembly 140 is the same as abovedescribed for assembly 40 to cover zones 117 in F168. 3 and 4.

ln apparatus embodiment 411 the frame assembly 270 has an explosiveblast liquid distributing assembly 240 located thereon. The explosiveblast liquid distributing assembly 240 is the same as assembly 40 andits components are supported on and attached to frame 270 in the samemanner as assembly 140 is attached to frame 270 (rather than to truckbed frame 318) and are functionally connected in the same manner asabove described for assembly 40 and in embodiment 411, a combustiblefuel supply and compressed air supply are provided on frame assembly270.

A fuel tank 301 (corresponding totank 1370f embodiment 412) and a pump302 (corresponding to 13'7P in assembly 40 for compression of the fuelgas) for passing it from that tank to combustion chamber 142 (as abovedescribed for 42) and an air compressor 303 (corresponding to 128 inembodiment 4l2),and air tank 304 (corresponding to tanks 424 and 425with valves as 427 and and line, as 129 in embodiment 412) are connectedas is the air supply to chamber 42 and are firmly attached to frameassembly 270. The air compressor may be connected to and driven by apower take-off line, as 327 from tractor 321 or may be driven by aseparate internal combustion engine, as 423. Accessory water tanks, as306 and 307, may be carried on frame 270 adjacent to the tank 42 to evenout water flow thereto: such tanks may be connected in series with thewater line 324 and valves, as 201 and 202,

as shown in FIG. 11, or as shown for tank 42A in H6.

- and a central frame assembly as 118, and a central carriage assembly276-assembly 276 is attached to and is firmly attached to and. supportedon frame 270 withchamber 142 also attached to frame 298: a collimatortube, as 143 of the apparatus (which collimator tube corresponds exactlyto the collimator tube 43 of assembly 40) is arranged with itslongitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis or length of theframe 270 and in the center thereof as shown in H6. 10. The nozzle 145of assembly 240 projects radially from the frame 270. Conduit 324 isoperatively connected to the combustion chamber 142 of the assembly 241)by a flexible line extending from the terminal end of tank 326 toaccessory water tank 307' and then, in series, to a regulator valve as261 and a check valve means 203 of FIG. 12 intothe combustion chamber142.

In the embodiment 413 the nozzle positioning assem-v bly 460 issubstituted for the nozzle positioning assembly 60 of explosive blastliquid distributing assembly 40 and the tank 42 and 139 of assembly 41is moved atop that assembly 36 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B from theirposition as shown as FIGS. 1 and 2.

Embodiment 413, shown as FIG. 5A, comprises the self-propelled carrierand reservoir truck assembly 321 and an explosive blast liquiddistributing assembly 440 supported on frame 314 and operativelyconnected thereto.

The explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 440 comprises, inoperative combination, the same water discharge assembly 41 and ignitionand timing control.

subassembly 50 as in explosive blast liquid distributing assembly 40 anda nozzle positioning assembly 460.

- The nozzle positioning assembly 460 comprises upper and lowerplates461 and 462, a pivot or vertical arm unit 459 and a pivotal nozzle unit445.

A top or upper horizontally extending rigid rearwardly extendingsemi-circular ribbed flat plate 461 is firmly attachedto a' rigidvertically extending framework 4810; framework 480 extends to-the top oftank 316 and is firmly fixed to frame 314.-

A bottom or lower horizontally extending rigid rearwardly extendingsemi-circular ribbed flat plate 462 is firmly attached to the rear ofthe frame 314 and extends rearwardly therefrom. A railing 479 extends 3feet upwardly from and is firmly attached to the upper and outer edg'eof plate 462. A vertical arm unit 459 is located between plate 461 and462 and is pivotally attached thereto; a nozzle unit 445 is pivotallysupported on the vertical arm unit 459. a

A vertically extending chamber 442, corresponding to the chamber 42 ofassembly 40, is firmly attached to the upper plate 461 and supportedthereon by a frame work 444. A rigid pipe, conduit portion 424, isoperatively attached to the bottom of tank 442 and is firmly fixed tothe plate 461 and extends vertically downward therethrough. A rigidvertically extending armunit 459 is firmly yet pivotably attached to thepipe 424 (fixed to top plate 461) and a base 446 which base is fixed tobottom plate 462. The vertical arm unit 459 comprises in series, anupper swivel element, 453, an upper vertical inverted tee 447, and alower vertical support pipe 463 in operative combination.

Tee 447 comprises an upper vertical conduit tee arm 464, a lefthorizontal conduit te'e arm 465 and a right horizontal conduit tee arm468, a standard left swivel 466 is operatively attached to left sideofleft conduit arm 465 and a right swivel469 is operatively attached toright tee arm 468.

Nozzle unit 445 comprises arm 467 and 471, a wye (Y-shaped element) 472,and a nozzle 473 firmly attached to each other. A rigid lift J(jay)shaped curved conduit arm, 467, is firmly attached to a leftswivel, 466, through flange 470' and a similar right .I (jay) shapedcurved conduit arm, 471, is firmly attached to a right swivel, 469through a similar flange 470; the rigid wye (or Y-shaped) conduit 472 isfirmly and operatively attached at the end of its arms to conduit arms467 and 471, while the other end of the wye 472 is firmly attached toand supports a rigid nozzle 473 similar to nozzle'45 of assembly 40. Thearms 467 and 471 project in one (rightward as shown in FIG. B) directionfrom tee 447 while a rigid control arm 474 is firmly fixed at its left(shown as FIG. 58) end to the other side of tee conduit arm 464 at levelof its junction with arm conduit arms 467 and 468; at its right end arm474 has left handle arm 475 and a righthandle arm 476 for movement ofthe nozzle unit 445. A counterweight 477 may balance the weight ofnozzle unit 445 about axis of swivel joints 466 and 469; if thehydraulic servo mechanism is not used. I

Lower vertical support pipe 463 is firmly fixed at its top to tee 447where arms 464, 465 and 468 meet and is co-axial with tee arm 464. Pipe463, at its bottom is rotatably seated in a base 446. An operator seat478 is firmly fixed to and supported in pipe 463 on one (left as shownin FIG. 58) side of support pipe 463.

Nozzle unit 445 is symmetrical about a vertical plane passing throughend 469 of nozzle 473 and the center of axis of vertical tee arm 464,pipes 463 and 424 and swivel 458.

The structure of arm unit 459 and nozzle unit 445 provide that anoperator in seat 478 may readily control the left and right direction ofnozzle 473 as well as its elevation and direction relative to thehorizontal to direct the stream as 1 l5 ejected therefrom as abovedescribed for assembly 40.

Controls for assembly 80 shown in box 118 of FIG. 11 and in FIG. 12 at14A may be located in a box 414A firmly fixed to frame 480.

The structure of nozzle positioning assembly 460 allows the nozzle toswivel about the vertical axis that passes through the swivel 458 andvertical pipe element 463 and arm 464 of tee 447. The wye 472 ispivotally attached by swivels 466 and 469 to arms 465 and 468 of .tee447 and the arm unit 459 is pivotally supported in swivel 458 (which isfirmly supported on plate 461) and on base 446 which is in turn firmlysupported on bottom plate 462. One end of a rigid piston chamber 454 isfirmly yet pivotally attached to vertical arm or support pipe 463. Apiston is slidably located within that chamber and the inner end of apiston arm 456 is firmly fixed to that piston and extends through theother, or distant,end of chamber 454 and is slidably supported therein.The outer end of arm 456 is pivotally attached to wye 472 and readilycontrolled by an operator as chamber 454 is operatively connected to asource of pressure fluid, as 139 or 210 by a control valve, as 482(ormay be separately connected to a source of hydraulic fluid) which valveis controllable by an operator in seat 478.

A plug 451 which has a truncated conical form, the minimum exteriordiameter of which is less than the internal diameter of the outlet 455of nozzle 473 and the maximum diameter of which plug is greater thantheinternal diameter of nozzle outlet 455, is firmly attached to at itsbase and supported on a rigid pivotal arm 452 of a tee shaped plate 450.Arm 452 is, as shown in FIG. 5C, firmly fixed to the rigid pivot platestem 453. Arm 454 is pivotally supported on pin 484 and pin 484 isfirmly fixed to ear 485 of fixed arm 486. Fixed arm 486 is a rigidchannel bar (in the form of a U-section) and is firmly fixed to nozzle445 and held firmly and slightly below and spaced away therefrom bybrackets 487 and 488. One inner end of a piston chamber 495 with alongitudinally movable hydraulically actuated piston therein is firmlyyet pivotally attached to the vertical arm 463 (FIG. 5B). The otherouter end of the piston chamber slideably supports a rigid piston arm489. Arm 489 extends along channel arm 486 and, at its outer end, ispivotally attached to the pin 483 in the pivot plate stem 453 (as shownin FIG. 5C). Accordingly rightwardly (as shown in FIG. 5B and 5C)extension and motion of the piston arm 489 causes plate 450 to pivotaround the pin 484 in ear 485 to position shown in FIG. 5C and removethe conical valveclosure plug 451 from the outlet 455. Also, leftwardmotion of the piston arm 457 into the piston chamber .495 causes thevalve closure plug 451 to snap against and close the orifice 455 of thenozzle 445. This closure element acts axactly as does the gate 448 inFIG. 11. The piston 485 is connected to line 245 in assembly of FIG. 12as shown for unit 50 in lieu of the piston assembly 50 in the assembly40 of FIG. 12, (or connected to line 135 in lieu of unit 55, shown inFIG. 11).

-In assembly 413 the valves shown in box 118 of FIG. 11 are arrayed in acontrol box 414A on framework 480 of tank 326.

Using LP. gas at a combustion ratio of 8 to 1 and with a pressure of 100pounds per square inch in the combustion chamber .442 when the sparkingfires a pressure of 400 p.s.i.g. is effected on combustion.

Such a stream projects easily 200 feet upwards into the air and atomizesat such height, and the thus atomized stream, or spray, cover an area of200 to 400 feet in length and 200 feet wide and it is accordingly usedfor spraying solutions and suspensions of herbicide and fungicide andthe like, and is used for the spraying of large areas of trees and fieldcrops and the like.

Additionally, apparatus 413 and 412' may be used with carbontetrachloride liquid for fighting oil well fires; said liquid can beused in place of water in the tank 316. Such a liquid is sprayed asabove described for water as a fire fighting means; it may be projectedas a solid stream of well over 300 feet length measured horizontally todouse oil well fires and to do so without the need of conventional highpressure pumping equipment in the lines except that which is developedby this explosive blast liquidassembly.

It is also within the scope of this invention that while the apparatusabove described presently operates at rate of one explosive blast every4 seconds with larger air lines and a larger pump than herein discloseda period of 2 seconds is readily obtained.

It is within the scope of this invention that a battery of combustionchambers may be operated as shown in FIG. 15. In such assembly each ofchambers 442A, 4423 and 442C,jeac'h like 442' are loaded and fired insequence for maintaining a high pressure throughout the entire period ofdischarge. In such an operation each of the chambers 442A, 442B and 442Cis operated and connected by lines as-4S92A, 492B and 492C respectivelythrough check valves 493A, 4938 and 493C to a pressure equalizationmaintaining tank as 494. The ignition units 4511A and 451B and 451C forignition in chambers 4342A, 4428 and 442C and supply of air 210 and gas222 to chambers 442A, 442B and 442C are as shown for chamber 42 in FIGS.Ill and 12: the connections also include a pressure sensitive switch as496A, 4196B and'496C also connected to each such chamber;-as thepressure in the tank in which combustion occurs first as 442A fallsfrom'400 to 200 psi. the next tank (442B) via switch 496A has theignition system thereof. As 451B, actuated by the pressure sensitiveswitch 496A and that next tank 4423 is then provided with ignition and,being theretofore charged with air and gas as was tank 442 from sourcesas 210 and 222 (or 137 and 139) is operated to combust the contentsthereof and to provide a pressure of over 400 p.s.i.g. therein anddischarge the contents thereof toward the nozzle 445. After thiscombustion occurs as the pressure in line 4928 rises over the pressurein line 492A the discharge of the first tank 4142A is cut off at valve493Av as the pressure of tank 442A falls. When the pressure in thesecond tank @423 falls from 400 to 200 p.s.i.g'. the pressure sensitiveswitch 496B thereof operates the ignition in tank 442C and causescombustion in thattank and discharges the contents thereof through theline 492C. As the pressure in line 492C exceeds that'in line 492B-aswell as 492A the check valves 493B and 493A prevent flow at any lowerpressure than the discharge from line 492C. Accordingly, the contents ofthe tank 442A, 44213 and 442C pass to tank494 (as an equalizing tank)and fromtank 494 to nozzle 445. as a high pressure stream, as 115(heretofore discussed as produced by assembly 40) but of extended timeduration and greater volume delivery.

The pressure sensitive switch, as 496C, operatively connected to thelast of the chambers 'to fire in the series, as 442C, is operativelyconnected to relief valves 497A, 4978 and 497C to bypass or otherwiserelieve the difference in pressure between the minimum prestimingcontrol subassembly, and a nozzle frame .subassembly in operativecombination,

the explosive blast actuated liquid distributor assembly comprising avertically extending hollow combustion chamber, a collimator tube longerand narrower thansaid chamber, a nozzle control valve,

and a nozzle connection near tothe bottom of the combustion chamberconnected to the collimator tube at one end thereof, said collimatortube being subassembly,

I connected at its other end to a nozzle control valve, said nozzleframe assembly comprising a rigid frame with a timing means thereon,said timing means operatively attached to said nozzle valve for openingand closing said valve, and said timing means having ignition switchactuation means operatively at- I tached thereto and said ignitionswitch means being connected to said combustion chamber, an inlet forcombustion fuel to said combustion chamber and automatically andoperatively attached thereto, said nozzle movably supported in saidnozzle frame assembly,

a liquid conduit connected to said reservoir, said conduit operativelyconnected to said combustion chamber,

said reservoir having a substantially larger volumetric capacity thansaid combustion chamber, 7

said reservoir and said n'ozzle frame being fixedto platform portionsthat are firmly attached to each other, whereby impulse from said nozzleis transmitted to said reservoir.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the liquid reservoir is supported ona mobile carrier and said carrier comprises a self-propelled wheeledvehicle,

said reservoir is operatively attached to a pump, said pump andreservoir are operatively attached to said combustion chamber.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 comprising also a separate movable supportmeans and said explosive blast actuated liquid distributing assembly islocated thereon, and a source of compressed air is located thereon and asource of combustible fuel is located thereon.

4. Apparatus as in'claim 3 wherein said nozzle control valve isinterposed between said collimator tube and said nozzle.

5. Apparatus as in claim 2 comprising variable valv control meansoperatively connected to said inlet for combustion fuel.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the explosive blast liquiddistributing assembly comprises a collimating tube and a nozzle, thelongitudinal axis of the nozzle being moveable relative to thelongitudinal axis of the collimator tube. I

7. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the collimator tube axis and thenozzle are fixedly located with respect to each other. and thelongitudinal axis of the collimator tube is pivotally supported on'theself-propelled vehicle.

8. Apparatus as inclaim 3 wherein the collimator tube axis and thenozzle are pivotally located with re-' spect to each other and thelongitudinal axis of the collimator tube is pivotally supported on theself-propelled vehicle.

9. In an explosive blast actuated liquid distributing assemblycomprising a' vertically extending hollow combustion chamber, acollimator tube, a nozzle frame assembly, a nozzle control valve and anozzle and a timing valve assembly in an ignition and timing control thebottom of the combustion chamber being connected near to its bottom toone end of the collimator tube, the other end of said collimator tubebeing connected to a nozzle'control valve,

said nozzle frame assembly comprising a rigid'frame with a nozzle valvecontrol means supported there'onand operatively attached to said nozzlevalve for opening and closing said-nozzle valve,

said ignition and timing control subassembly comprising ignition meansoperatively connected to a spark means in said combustion chamber, gascontaining means and air containing means each operatively connected tosaid combustion chamber by gas inlet valve means and air inlet valvemeans, respectively; means controlling the volume of water passing froma water source to said combustion chamber, gas inlet valve timing meansoperatively attached to said air inlet valve means and to said nozzlevalve control means, valve means operatively connected to saidcombustion chamber automatically closing said water source off from saidcombustion chamber on actuation of said ignition means, gas purge meansoperatively connected to said combustion chamber, and valve meansautomatically connecting said purge means to said combustion chamber,said gas inlet valve timing means being operatively connected to saidignition means; The improvement comprising: said air inlet valve meansconnected to said combustion chamber adjacent said spark means with theair inlet valve means blowing inlet air across said spark means toremove moisture from said spark means. 10. Apparatus as in claim 9wherein said gas inlet valve timing means is a penumatic timing means.

11. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said gas inlet valve timing means isan electrical timing means.

12. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said nozzle control valveoperatively connects said collimator tube and said nozzle.

1. Apparatus for projecting water comprising, in operative combination,a liquid reservoir and an explosive blast actuated liquid distributingsystem assembly, said explosive blast actuated liquid distributingassembly comprising a water discharge assembly, an ignition and timingcontrol subassembly, and a nozzle frame subassembly in operativecombination, the explosive blaSt actuated liquid distributor assemblycomprising a vertically extending hollow combustion chamber, acollimator tube longer and narrower than said chamber, a nozzle controlvalve, and a nozzle connection near to the bottom of the combustionchamber connected to the collimator tube at one end thereof, saidcollimator tube being connected at its other end to a nozzle controlvalve, said nozzle frame assembly comprising a rigid frame with a timingmeans thereon, said timing means operatively attached to said nozzlevalve for opening and closing said valve, and said timing means havingignition switch actuation means operatively attached thereto and saidignition switch means being connected to said combustion chamber, aninlet for combustion fuel to said combustion chamber and automaticallyand operatively attached thereto, said nozzle movably supported in saidnozzle frame assembly, a liquid conduit connected to said reservoir,said conduit operatively connected to said combustion chamber, saidreservoir having a substantially larger volumetric capacity than saidcombustion chamber, said reservoir and said nozzle frame being fixed toplatform portions that are firmly attached to each other, wherebyimpulse from said nozzle is transmitted to said reservoir.
 2. Apparatusas in claim 1 wherein the liquid reservoir is supported on a mobilecarrier and said carrier comprises a self-propelled wheeled vehicle,said reservoir is operatively attached to a pump, said pump andreservoir are operatively attached to said combustion chamber. 3.Apparatus as in claim 1 comprising also a separate movable support meansand said explosive blast actuated liquid distributing assembly islocated thereon, and a source of compressed air is located thereon and asource of combustible fuel is located thereon.
 4. Apparatus as in claim3 wherein said nozzle control valve is interposed between saidcollimator tube and said nozzle.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 2 comprisingvariable valve control means operatively connected to said inlet forcombustion fuel.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the explosive blastliquid distributing assembly comprises a collimating tube and a nozzle,the longitudinal axis of the nozzle being moveable relative to thelongitudinal axis of the collimator tube.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 3wherein the collimator tube axis and the nozzle are fixedly located withrespect to each other and the longitudinal axis of the collimator tubeis pivotally supported on the self-propelled vehicle.
 8. Apparatus as inclaim 3 wherein the collimator tube axis and the nozzle are pivotallylocated with respect to each other and the longitudinal axis of thecollimator tube is pivotally supported on the self-propelled vehicle. 9.In an explosive blast actuated liquid distributing assembly comprising avertically extending hollow combustion chamber, a collimator tube, anozzle frame assembly, a nozzle control valve and a nozzle and a timingvalve assembly in an ignition and timing control subassembly, the bottomof the combustion chamber being connected near to its bottom to one endof the collimator tube, the other end of said collimator tube beingconnected to a nozzle control valve, said nozzle frame assemblycomprising a rigid frame with a nozzle valve control means supportedthereon and operatively attached to said nozzle valve for opening andclosing said nozzle valve, said ignition and timing control subassemblycomprising ignition means operatively connected to a spark means in saidcombustion chamber, gas containing means and air containing means eachoperatively connected to said combustion chamber by gas inlet valvemeans and air inlet valve means, respectively; means controlling thevolume of water passing from a water source to said combustion chamber,gas inlet valve timing means operatively attached to said air inletvalve means and to said nozzle valve control means, valve meansoperatively connected to said combustion chamber automaticAlly closingsaid water source off from said combustion chamber on actuation of saidignition means, gas purge means operatively connected to said combustionchamber, and valve means automatically connecting said purge means tosaid combustion chamber, said gas inlet valve timing means beingoperatively connected to said ignition means; The improvementcomprising: said air inlet valve means connected to said combustionchamber adjacent said spark means with the air inlet valve means blowinginlet air across said spark means to remove moisture from said sparkmeans.
 10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said gas inlet valve timingmeans is a penumatic timing means.
 11. Apparatus as in claim 9 whereinsaid gas inlet valve timing means is an electrical timing means. 12.Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said nozzle control valve operativelyconnects said collimator tube and said nozzle.